Dunkin’ Donuts still draws crowds as it opens latest Bay Area store

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One-year-old, Ema Stowell and her father, Matt Stowell, of Fremont, are greeted by the iced coffee mascot during the grand opening of Dunkin' Donuts in Fremont, California, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. This is the first Dunkin' Donuts shop to open in Alameda County. (Gary Reyes/ Bay Area News Group)

A steady line gathers during the grand opening of Dunkin' Donuts in Fremont, California, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. This is the first Dunkin' Donuts shop to open in Alameda County. (Gary Reyes/ Bay Area News Group)

Leo Chira serves up an order during the grand opening of Dunkin' Donuts in Fremont, California, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. This is the first Dunkin' Donuts shop to open in Alameda County. (Gary Reyes/ Bay Area News Group)

Selena Scott, of Fremont, shows off the goodies she just bought at the grand opening of Dunkin' Donuts in Fremont, California, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. This is the first Dunkin' Donuts shop to open in Alameda County. (Gary Reyes/ Bay Area News Group)

(Gary Reyes/ Bay Area News Group)

Chocolate frosted donuts with sprinkles are ready to be served during the grand opening of Dunkin' Donuts in Fremont, California. (Gary Reyes/ Bay Area News Group)

Customers are greeted by the iced coffee mascot during the grand opening of Dunkin' Donuts in Fremont, California, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. This is the first Dunkin' Donuts shop to open in Alameda County. (Gary Reyes/ Bay Area News Group)

Faiqa Niaz, left, serves up samples to Selena Scott and her son, Jayce Hutchins, 8, of Fremont, during the grand opening of Dunkin' Donuts in Fremont, California, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. This is the first Dunkin' Donuts shop to open in Alameda County. (Gary Reyes/ Bay Area News Group)

Customers wait in line during the grand opening of Dunkin' Donuts in Fremont, California, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. This is the first Dunkin' Donuts shop to open in Alameda County. (Gary Reyes/ Bay Area News Group)

FREMONT — The excitement over the return of the Dunkin’ Donuts franchises in the Bay Area has not yet waned, if the opening of the Fremont location Wednesday were any indication.

The first person in line Wednesday morning when the store — located at 5255 Mowry Ave. — opened its doors at 5 a.m. had camped outside since 11 p.m. the previous night, according to Vishal Shah, one of the franchise owners.

Shah was not surprised. This is the third Dunkin’ Donuts franchise that his group, California Donut Kings, has opened in the Bay Area, including ones in South San Francisco and Half Moon Bay, and each time, there seems to be a lot of anticipation, he said.

“Everyone has a story about Dunkin’ Donuts,” he said of customers who show up on the opening days, adding that many of them are East Coast transplants who grew up with the brand.

That was the case for Fremont resident Lori Friedrich, who was waiting in line Wednesday morning for coffee and doughnuts.

“I’ve been anticipating this,” Friedrich said. She is from New Jersey and has lived in the Bay Area for seven years — all the while missing the coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts that she loved. “(There), you grow up with Dunkin’ like people in California grow up with Starbucks.”

Fremont’s mayor, Lily Mei, vice mayor Rick Jones and several members of the City Council and Chamber of Commerce were present to celebrate the ribbon cutting and opening of the store.

“I grew up on the East Coast, so I’m personally happy to see Dunkin’ Donuts here,” Mei said.

“I’m a huge fan of your Munchkins,” she added, referring to the chain’s famous doughnut holes.

Others came to check out what all the hype was about. Selena Garcia, a Fremont resident and California native, has stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts on travels in the Midwest but wanted to try the one in Fremont.

“A friend of mine has been anticipating this and sent out a message on Facebook,” Garcia said, waiting in line to get into the store. “So, I’m interested.”

The chain made a return to the Bay Area when it opened a location in Walnut Creek last year. Before that, it had opened at least one store in the San Jose area in the 1970s, but that has been closed for at least 15 years. More Dunkin’ Donuts locations are slated to open in Alameda and San Mateo counties, and there is one planned to open this winter in San Jose at 5519 Snell Ave. near Blossom Hill Road.

Shah said his group, which includes partners Haresh Patel, Chetan Jani, Vipul Patel and father-son team Jaimie and Jamie Dejuras, is looking at Hayward and Castro Valley for possible next locations.

He said he’s excited by the buzz that the openings have generated.

“Dunkin’ is nostalgic. There is almost a cult following,” Shah said to a crowd at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, adding that the members of his group are second-generation franchisees. “We don’t have blood in the veins; we have strawberry jelly.”

Annie Sciacca joined the Bay Area News Group in 2016 and covers Contra Costa County. She has written for Bay Area newspapers and magazines on topics including business, politics, economics, education, crime and public safety. Have a tip? Reach Annie at 925-943-8073 or by email at asciacca@bayareanewsgroup.com. You can also send her an encrypted text on Signal at 925-482-7958.

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